Fluid agency washer with exterior pump



June 5, 1945. w. RocKE 2,377,454

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Application October 30, 1941, Serial No. 417,074

(Cl. (S8- 23) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines and will be described as applied to domestic clothes washers.

The machine is of the type that washes and dries clothes in the same tub without handling by the operator. This applicant appreciates that many inventors have created washing machines of this type but that in all of the machines thus far created certain inherent disadvantages have existed. 'I'hese disadvantages are generally classifled as follows:

(a) When the washing action is created by bailles in the tub or agitators mounted therein, these obstructions interfere with the proper drying of the clothes when the basket is revolved at high speed for the drying operation; also such baiiies and agitators mounted within the tub prevent thorough, sanitary cleaning thereof.

(b) The structures of washing machines having single tubs for washing and drying commonly involve one tub mounted within the other and the exterior tub is commonly inaccessible for proper cleaning.

(c) Where the Washing is by water action alone, the clothes and water circulate together in a cyclic course with a minimum of changing relationship which improperly subjects the clothes to washing action because they are also flexed and flushed in the same unvarying manner.

(d) Where the washing is by mechanical agitation in the tub a pump is required to change the water, because such machines require ay larger volume of water and the time element requires fast power pumping.

The particular object of this inventin is to provide a clothes washing machine wherein the washing and drying operations are performed in a. clear, open tub, unobstructed by bafilles or agitators, and wherein the washing action is performed entirely by water action.

Another object is to provide a clothes Washing machine wherein the washing is by water from a pump located exteriorly of a clear, unobstructed wash tub, the same pump being utilized for shifting the Wash and rinse waters to and from the Washing tub.

A further object is to provide a washing machine in which the water washing action is effectively augmented by pivotally oscilating the tub.

A still further object is to provide a machine with the above changes which permits complete sanitary cleaning of the tub and tanks with a minimum of effort.

Other objects and benets will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my Washing machine showing the general arrangements of the parts in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken cross sectional view showing the pump and tub mounting with associated mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevational view of the Washing and drying tub as it appears on the section line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tub shown in Fig.3;

Figl 5 is an enlarged broken bottom plan view with some parts removed to showdetails of the tub oscillating mechanism, as will later be explained;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device.

Now referring to the drawings and, at the outset, to Fig. 1, I designate the base of my machine by the numeral I0, and on this base I mount a multiple tank unit II. In this instance the multiple tank consists of a storage tank I2 and a washing tank I3, the same being formed from a unitary tank divided by the partition I 4. The storage tank I2 has a sump I5 and the washing tank has a sump I6, each being drained individually by rearward outlet drains I'I and I8, respectively. I cover the multiple tank II by dual lids I Ia and IIb, hinged together by the hinge IIc. By this arrangement the washing tank I3 may be completely uncovered and the wash tub I9 removed for thorough sanitary cleaning, as will later be explained. Similarly, by removing the lid IIb the storage tank I2 can be thoroughly cleaned. Within the washing tank I 3 I mount my washing tub I9. This tub I!!l is mounted on a flanged spindle 20 in a support bearing base 2I. The washing and rinsing operations in my machine are performed by circulating water currents which are developed by the motor 22 and a. pump 23.

Now referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the tub I9 is riveted securely to the flanged spindle 20 and with this spindle is rotatably mounted in the bearing base 2I which is supported from the tank i3 and the cross brace member 21, as shown. The flanged spindle is mounted in the bearings 25 and 26 while supported on athrust ring 24 between the bearing 25 and the flange of the spindle 20. The driving structure is supported between the cross member 21 and the bottom brace 28, as shown. The driving mechanism is operated by a shaft 30 supported at its bottom end by the bottom bearing bracket 29 and its upper end by a spline 3|ls engaging in the female spline 20s of the spindle bearing 20. At

the bottom of the shaft 30 is a friction disc 32 pinned to the shaft 30 by the pin 3|. In the position shown in Fig. 2 there is a friction disc 33 removed from the friction disc 32 because in this position the disc 33 and the space ring 34 and the driving pulley 36, all secured to the central bearing shaft 35, are held in this upward removed position by the control crank rod 38 mounted on the bracket 39 and held in upward position by the control handle 40 secured in this position by the spring stop 40s, as best shown in Fig. 1. In the position shown, the pulley 36, driven by the belt 31, engages the pulley 43 through the friction disc 36j and thus drives the pulley 43 and the crank pulley 46 through the belt 45. The crank pulley 46 is rotatably mounted on the pin 41, secured in the base bracket 39 and when rotating, as in the position shown, is connected by the connecting rod 48 to a crank 44 pinned to the shaft 30 by the pin 44p, as shown. The construction permits the oscillation of the crank 44 and tub I9 through about a 30o arc, as will be evident from the full-line and dotted-line positions shown in Fig. 5. The control of this oscillatory movement is through a slidable clutch 49, slidably mounted on the shaft 30 by a pin 50. This clutch member 49 has a single clutch jaw 49o engageable with the female clutch jaw 44e of the crank 44. The clutch 49 is controlled by the control crank rod supported by the bracket clip 52 and having the end crank 5Ic engaging the clutch 49. Mounted on the inner end of the crank rod 5| where it is sup.- ported on the bracket 39 is a spur pinion 52 which engages a similar pinion 53 mounted on the control rod 38. By this arrangement it will be understood that any rotating movement from the control handle 40 will move both of the control crank rods 38 and 5I. Thus, in the position shown in Fig. 2, the drive pulley 36 is frictionally engaging the pulley 43, which drives the crank pulley 46 to oscillate the crank 44 which drives the clutch 49 through the jaws 49o and 44o to oscillate the basket I9 through about a 30 arc, as clearly shown in the dotted positions of the crank 44 in Fig. 5, Upon reverse movement of the handle 40, the clutch jaws 44c and 49c will be disengaged, with the friction discs 32 and 33 engaged. In this position the drive pulley 36, through the friction of the discs 32 and 33, will rapidly rotate the shaft 30 and the tub I9 to effect drying of the clothes in the basket by the centrifugal force thus created.

Now referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that I provide bottom perforations I 9b in the tub I9. The combined area of these perforations is far greater than the pump capacity and permits return flow of the wash water to the sump I6 without noticeable down currents, in accordance with the principles of my Washing machine as fully explained and claimed in my Patent Re. 20,424. The incoming water currents ,to the tub I9 are accommodated through an opening adjacent the bottom of the tub made by lancing a section I9i downward to provide an opening |90, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The opening is made much wider than the nozzle of the pump so as to permit ready ingress of the currents into the tub I9 even while the tub is oscillating, as heretofore explained. It will be observed that the bottom perforations' ISb are in the sides of the tub bottom, leaving a solid central area to guide the inflowing wash water across the tub, where it is diverted upwardly along the curved side walls and then cascaded inwardly by the inturned rim to provide an effective washing action. This washing action is somewhat similar to the action fully described in my Patent Re. 20,424, although in this case the pump is located outside of the tub and the Wash water is directed in a single Wide stream across the bottom of the tub. However, the water washing action thus created is a cyclic rolling action in the tub, and I have discovered that this action alone leaves something to be desired in washing effectiveness. Now, by oscillating the tub as heretofore explained, I develop means to interfere with the cyclic flow of the clothes and wash water and to rearrange and .change the clothes in such a manner that all areas of the clothes in the batch are subjected to a washing action with their changed positions within the tub. 'I'his has been found to be very effective, because the means thus employed is entirely exterior of the tub and leaves the tub completely clear and unobstructed, I further have found that by Washing under this method a larger volume of clothes can be handled for the same volume of water than in machines not employing the oscillating feature, and thus I am enabled to Wash the normal batch of clothes in a smaller tub. This is very advantageous in the drying of the clothes because when the clothes are rotated with the tub I9 they are held in a more compact, smallerdiameter tub, thus to' permit high rotational speed extraction with less danger of out-ofbalance loading. To permit the water to be expelled from the clothes when the tub is rotating in the extraction cycle. I provide perforations I9e in the upper rim of the tub, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Now, again referring to Fig, 2, I will explain the application of my motor-driven pump to the machine, and I desire further to explain that the details of this pump are fully explained in my Patent No. 2,250,315. The motor 22 is conventionally mounted and carries on its shaft a belt pulley 54, driving the belt 31 and the pulley 36. Integrally with this pulley 54 is a friction drive cup 55 engageable with the expanding friction member 56. The friction member 56 is controlled by the dual flanged member 51 and is urged into friction engagement with the cup 55 by the spring 58. In the position shown, the friction member 56 attached to the pump shaft is driving the impeller 59. However, upon rotation of the control shaft 60 by ythe control handle 6|, as shown in Fig, I, the crank 60e will engage the flanged member 51 and leave the friction member 56 out of engagement with the cup 55, and thus the rotation of the pump may be stopped. Within the pump housing 23 are mounted dual interior cylinder members 62 and 63. These members are Vcontrolled by control handles 62h and 63h through shaft connections 62t and 63T, respectively, to cause rotation of these cylinders. The exterior cylinder 62 has a bottom opening 62a and two opposite upper openings 62b and 62e. The inner cylinder member' has a single top opening 63a positioned and arranged to coact with either of the openings 62D or 62o. By this arrangement it is obvious that by properly controlling the handles 62h and 63h water may be taken from the sump I5 and the tank I2 and dis-A charged through the nozzle 23u) into-the tub I9 and tank I3, as shown in Fig. 2. By rotating the handle 62h 180, water will then be taken from to eiect washing of the clothes. However, by rotating both of the handles 62h and 63h 180 from the position shown in Fig. 2, water will be taken from the sump I6 and the tank I 3" and returned to the tank I2. By this or variations of this arrangement IA have provided means whereby the same pump which effects the circulation of wash water currents may be utilized to transfer water from one tank to another.

Now having described the construction and relation of the parts of my invention, I will explain its operation:

With the tank I3 filled with wash water and a batch of clothes in the tub I9, the control handles 62h and 63h, are positioned to direct the flow of wash water from the sump I6 through the nozzle outlet 2310 into the tub I9, and the control handle 40 is positioned to frictionally engage the pulleys 36 and 43 to drive the crank pulley 46 and the crank 44 through the connecting rod 48. When this is done the control rod I engages the clutch jaws 44e and 49e and the tub is oscillated pivotally on its center. Now engaging the pump clutch 55-56 by means of the control handle 6I the wash water is powerfully circulated by a narrow stream of water across the bottom of the tub. carrying the clothes in a turbulent cyclic rolling path transversely of the tub. During this ow of water and clothes transversely of the tub the clothes engage the bottom and sides of the tub during their movement and as the tub is oscillating pivotally on its axis, the clothes are shifted arcuately both ways from thepowerful narrow stream of water across the bottom of the tub, with the result that the entire batch of clothes is shifted and rearranged with respect to the tub and to each other so that the entire area of the clothes is subjected to varying currents of water and thus flexed and flushed in infinite interchanging relationship to effect thorough washing. This shifting of the clothes effectively prevents stoppage of the outflowing water through the perforations I9b in the bottom of the tub I9.

At the end of the washing cycle the pump control handles 62h. and 63h are arranged to shift the wash water rapidly from the tank I3 to the tank I2. The control handle 4U is now rotated to shift the drive of the pulley 36A to cause engagement of the friction discs 32 and 33 while disengaging the clutch jaws Mc and 49o. The tub I9 is now rapidly rotated to effect extraction of the water from the clothes therein by centrifugal force. As has heretofore been stated, my arrangement permits a dense loading of clothes and thus the tub I9 is reduced in size and the danger of unbalanced loads in the tub is effectively reduced. The wash water obtained from extracting the water in the clothes is returned during this operation to the sump I6, and the pump, which has been continuously operating during this period, returns the wash water to the tank I2. l

The clothes may now be subjected to a power rinse operation by filling the tank I3 with clear rinse water which may either be drained into the sewer through the drain I8 or, if desired, another tank may be provided and this rinse water saved in a manner exactly similar to that described for the wash water.

The wash water from the tank I2 may no'w be returned to the tank I3 by arranging the pump control handles 62h and 63h and additional batches of clothes may be washed, as heretofore explained.

Although I have described a domestic washing machine wherein all of the controls are manually operated, it will be appreciated that automatic controls may be provided whereby the entire washing operation may be performed in cycles without attention from the operator.

I also desire to point out and explain that although I have shown and described a construction in which the powerful stream of wash water is directed across the bottom of the tub as a preferred form of my invention, I realize that many variations of this construction are possible. I particularly desire to explain that my invention involves the combination of a powerful current of wash water to roll the clothes and water over in a cyclic course in periodic contact with the tub and then oscillating or moving the tub to divert the clothes from that course, thus to obtain an infinite interchange of relationship of the clothes with each other and their position in the water course. 'I'he washing action herein described is claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 417,073.

Havingthus described my invention, I now claim as new:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a tank, a perforate tub rotatably mounted in the tank, a centrifugal pump mounted exteriorly of the tub having a discharge nozzle to direct a stream of water from the tank across the bottom of the tub, thereby to create a transverse rolling flow of water and clothes in the tub, and means to oscillate the tub on its axis, whereby the tub and clothes are arcuately moved with respect to the stream of water across the bottom of the tub, thereby to effect complete washing of all the clothes.

2. In a clothes washing machine; va tank; a tub having a side inlet opening near the bottom,

an imperforate bottom section extending transversely from said inlet to direct crosswise flow of water through the tub and perforations through the adjacent bottom sections of the tub; a centrifugal pump mounted exteriorly of the tub having a discharge nozzle to directa stream of water from the tank across the bottom of the tub, thereby to create a transverse rolling ilow of water and clothes in the tub; and means to oscillate the tub on its axis, whereby the tub and clothes are arcuately moved with respect to the stream of Water across the bottom of the tub, thereby to eiect complete washing of all the clothes.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a tank, a perforate tub rotatably mounted in the tank for turning movement about an axis, said tub having a transversely extending bottom with opposite sides curving upwardly therefrom, said tub having an opening in a side thereof adjacent the bottom and between the upwardly curved sides, a pump mounted externally of the tub and having a discharge nozzle in position to direct a stream of water through said opening into the tub and across the bottom thereof, thereby to create a transverse rolling flow of water in the tub, and means for oscillating the tub on its axis during said water discharge, whereby the tub is moved arcuately relative to the stream o f water across the bottom thereof to effect a washing action.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a tank, a tub having a nozzle inlet opening adjacent its bottom rotatably mounted in the tank, an imperforate bottom section extending transversely across the tub from the inlet to direct crosswise flow of water through the tub and perforations through the adjacent bottom sections, a centrifugal pump mounted exteriorally oi' the tub having a discharge nozzle to direct a stream of water from the tank through the tub inlet across the bottom of the tub thereby to create a transverse rolling now of water and clothes as a washing action in the tub, means to oscillate thetub on its axis whereby the tub and clothes are arcuately moved with respect to the stream of water, means to drain the tank and rapidly rotate the tub to effect drying of the clothes, and means to reposition the tub, nozzle inlet and nozzle to reestablish the washing association of the machine elements.

WILLIAM ROCKE. 

